Wartime solidarity and sense of belonging to Europe: public support for military aid to NATO allies under attack

Despite extensive research on public opinion, the factors influencing attitudes towards wartime solidarity between allied nations remain underexplored, especially at the citizen level. Existing literature mainly focuses on state-level solidarity, neglecting the importance of public support. This is particularly relevant within NATO, where collective defence relies on both member states’ actions and citizens’ willingness to support allies in need. Traditional international relations theories emphasise state and elite actions, overlooking the role of public opinion. Public support is critical, especially for military aid, as it involves taxpayer money in democratic states. This article explores the factors driving citizens’ willingness to assist an allied NATO country during wartime, with a focus on sense of belonging to Europe. Using cross-sectional survey data from Finland, a recent NATO member, the study examines how these emotional ties influence the willingness to provide military support. The findings contribute to public opinion, security policy, and security studies, shedding light on the mechanisms behind solidarity among NATO allies and Western democracies and public support for military aid.